When you find yourself with any type of drainage issue whether that is a simple blockage or something more complicated, it comes with a certain amount of stress for the home or business owner.
While most householders automatically assume that they are responsible for getting blocked drains cleared or arranging drain repairs, this may not necessarily be the case. There are a number of factors that can determine where the responsibility lies when it comes to removing an obstruction from a blocked drain or dealing with more complex drainage damage.
Within the body of this article we will look at how you can work out who is responsible for dealing with a blocked drain. Having a clear understanding of what is and what isn’t your responsibility will hopefully prevent you from incurring unnecessary expense. So, let’s take a look at some of the factors that help determine who is responsible for the drain maintenance of your property.
The Location of the Drain
The Location of the Drain The simplest way to determine if you are responsible for identifying and removing an obstruction from the drainage system is the location of the drain. Normally, drains that are inside your property line are under your control, so if a drain is transporting sewage out of your house directly becomes blocked or damaged, you’ll need to either clear it yourself or employ the services of a professional drainage company to unblock the drain.
It is your responsibility to fix any damage or clear obstructions in the drains that are connected to your home. The is because you are responsible for ongoing drain maintenance. The water company, on the other hand, will be in charge of unblocking drains and having damaged repaired if the problem is in a lateral drain.
What is the Definition of a Lateral Drain
The definition of a Lateral drain is one that directly connects to the public sewer system. The lateral drains are typically located outside your property line, despite the fact that they are connected to your private drains. It will be the water company’s responsibility to unblock it or perform drain repairs on a lateral drain, not that of the householder.
What if the Issue is Located within the Main Sewerage System
The first thing we need to do is to define the specific differences between what is considered to be a drain and what is a sewer. Pipework that removes wastewater from your home can be described as a drain. A Private drain will run through and out of your home carrying water from washing machines, sinks, bathtubs, and showers and toilets into the main sewerage system.
Your water provider generally owns and maintains public sewers, and the wastewater from your drains and the drains of your neighbours is channelled through the main sewers. The clearing and repair of a significant blockage in the sewer system that affects your drains and is located outside your property line are not your responsibility. The most efficient way to determine the location of any drainage problem is by arranging for a CCTV Drain Survey to be carried out.
Who is Responsible When It Comes to Rented Properties
The tenancy agreement will typically have the answer in cases when a clogged drain impacts a rental property. The structure and outside the property, including the drains and drain pipes, are often the landlord’s responsibility for upkeep and repair.
Minor obstructions inside the home, such a clogged sink or a blocked toilet, can in many cases be easily fixed by the tenant and may not require the intervention of the landlord. However, if the problem returns soon after you’ve unblocked the drain, it may be a sign of a more serious problem with the drainage system. When this happens the landlord will probably be liable for clearing this or the cost of any drain repairs associated with the problem.